Overview
The first 25 years of Sir Stephen's professional career were spent at the Tax Bar, as a tenant of Pump Court Tax Chambers.
Sir Stephen retired from the bench in 2011.
Information on Arbtiration and Mediation/ADR services can be found here.
Career
1963: Called, Middle Temple
1980: KC
1985: Assistant Recorder
1987: Appointed Head of Chambers, Pump Court Tax Chambers
1989: Recorder
1992: Presiding Special Commissioner and President of the VAT and Duties Tribunals
1998: Deputy High Court Judge
2000: President of the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal
2006: President of the Pensions Regulator Tribunal
2007: Knighted for Public Services
2008: Judge of the Upper Tribunal and President of the First-Tier Tax Chamber
2011: Retired from the bench
2012: CEDR qualified Mediator
Experience
As advocate and adviser he represented businesses and private clients, dealing with the entire range of taxes.
In his judicial capacity, he was required to handle and resolve disputes between the tax authorities and taxpayers over liabilities to every type of tax and duty, direct and indirect.
With regards to the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal and the Pensions Regulator Tribunal, he heard cases referred by businesses and individuals within the regulatory regime who were disputing rulings of the regulator. The disputes required the tribunal, for example, to assess the fitness and propriety of a trader or to determine market abuse and insider trading issues.